Box press



lime 20, 1939- L. E. JONES ET AL BOX PRESS Filed March 12, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l a ATTO N June 20, 1939.

E. JONES ET AL BOX PRESS- Filed March 12, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fig? June 20, 1939. L. E. JONES El AL BOX PRESS Filed March 12, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS. Z/ayd. 1. Jones.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX PRESS Lloyd E. Jones and Henry L. Smith, Dunedin, Fla., assignors to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application March 12, 1937, Serial No. 130,556

10 Claims. (01. 100-57) This invention relates to a box handling apparatus and more particularly to an improved box press or the like for clamping lids on boxes of fruit and the like to enable fastening of the This type of press is especially useful in boxing citrus fruit, and other similar types, with which a crown pack is used, that is, the fruit is packed higher than the sides of the box so that I lid. the lid, when fastened, arches from end to end.

It is an object of the invention to provide an The presser mechanism usually includes a pair improved box press or the like which can readily of spaced apart presser arms which are'posltioned be adjusted for use with various sizes of boxes. for engagement transversely across a box lid Another object of the invention is to provide adjacent the ends thereof and, preferably with '10] an improved box press having adjustable presser e fa eof t e p es e a s flat nst t e id. arms to adapt the box press for use with various h pr s r rm r m d for a j ment iz s of b x on the presser framework as described more par- Anoth r bject of th in enti i to provide ticularly hereinafter for use with various sizes of an improved box press having adjustable presser e arms to adapt the box press for use with various The box press frame I is n lly r ne ,1 sizes of boxes and which can b lappli d a an lar and may be formed of angles or the like which attachment to box presses already in use. may be joined as y We d Flame iS pro- Another object of the invention is to provide Vided e t p with p e H to form a box an improved box press or the like which is of support, pla H vi p d r r e I a sturdy, simple construction which is not likely forming a stop to engage a side of the box and .20 to get out of order and which is designed to proposition the 100K 011 the plate At each mote economical manufacture and assembly. me 56 is provided with spaced ap guide Other objects will appear as the descripti n angles i3 which provide a vertically extending progresses, track for rollers I4 journalled on presser frame- In th drawings: work It. Framework It, as seen more clearly 25 Fi 1 is a front l vati of b press in Fig. 1, is provided with vertical end angles Il bodying my invention ith a box how in la connected adjacent the top by a cross channel 18. and with the raised inoperative position of the Framework s urged t its a ed p r pres er arm shown in dotted line tive position by respective sets of springs 2| (Figs.

Fig, 2 is a side elevation of the box'press 1 and 2) secured at their upper ends to frame I0 30 shown in Fig. 1 and also illustrates the inoperaand at their lower ends to respective brackets 22 tive position of the presser arms in dotted lines. 011 espect ve end angles ii of the framework.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged front d id le- To provide for adjustment of framework It, U- vations respectively of the right end presser arm sh pe foot pedal 25 has its ends p ted at 21 assembly as viewed in Fig. 1. on diagonal frame members 28 of frame Hi and 35 Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the extends downwardly and for Y 0f the avarious adjusted positions of the presser arm chine and centrally thereof has pedal extension illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. 29 for operation by the foot of an operator. Ad-

Fig. 6 is a detail section illustrating the lockjacent its ends, pedal 26 has respective links 3l mg pin structure, the view being indicated by pivoted thereto and extendin pwardly through 40 the line 6-6 in Fig. 3. respective apertured arms 32 on framework I6. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the locking pin. The adjusting nuts shown on the upper ends of Generally, the box press may include a frame links 3! provide means for adjusting e a ount which provides a box support and a mounting for of movement of presser framework it caused by 5 the presser and strapping mechanism. The movement of pedal 26. strapping mechanism which may or may not be To maintain the adjusted position of pedal 26 employed with my improved presser mechanism and framework 46, arcuate latching sector 33 is not shown. In the form of the invention illusmay have its upper end secured by Suitable racktrated, the presser mechanism comprises a ets on frame l0 and adjacent its lower end 0 framework which is mounted for vertical move- S provided With rack teeth 34 for cooperation ment on the press frame, being spring urged to with latch 36 adjustably mounted by set screw its upper inoperative position and adapted for 3'! on latch member 38 pivoted at 39 on pedal movement by suitable adjusting means to its 26. Spring 4| tends to urge latch 36 into enlower clamping position where it holds the lid of gagement with teeth 34. 56 the box in position to be fastened as by nailing. From the above description it is seen that presser framework I6 can be lowered from its upper inoperative position to the position shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 by depression of operating pedal 26, such position being maintained by the engagement of latch 36 with teeth 34. As stated above, this movement serves to move the presser arms into clamping engagement with the lid of a. box to press the fruit into a box and hold the lid in position to be fastened. The presser arms are mounted for vertical adjustment with respect to the presser framework to enable easy adaptation of the box press for use with boxes of varying sizes. Preferably, the presser arms are made in the form of attachments so that if desired they can be applied to box presses already in use.

The presser arm assemblies are similar, being symmetrical for use with the respective ends of a box, for this reason only one of such presser arm assemblies will be described in detail.

In the form of the invention illustrated, each presser arm assembly includes a bracket 5| (Figs. 1 and. 2) having L-shaped boss 52 at i'tslower end for engagement with an end angle I? of presser frame l6. Boss 52 and angle I! are provided with aligned apertures to receive fastening bolts 53. As seen more clearly in Figs. 3 and 4, each bracket 5| is provided with plate portion 56 which is especially formed to cooperate in the adjustment of the presser arm, per se.

To provide a mounting for the presser arm, plate portion 56 has apertured boss 5'! to receive a reduced end of fastening stud 58 which is secured thereon by nut 59 threaded on such reduced end. Crank 6| has apertured boss 62 pivoted on an enlarged portion of stud 58 and held thereon by head 63 of stud 58. At its free end, crank 6| is provided with apertured boss 64 which pivotally receives shaft extension 66 of presser arm 61, which is located with respect to boss 64 by flange 68 thereof and arm 69 pinned on extension 66 at H. As seen in Fig. 3, presser arm 61 is provided with flat bottom face H to engage the lid of the box as illustrated in Fig. 1.

To! provide for vertical adjustment of lthe presser arm with respect to its supporting bracket, and to control the angle of the face of the presser arm, the bracket is provided with a plurality of spaced apart fastening stations in the form of apertures 16 which are adapted to receive locking pin Tl removably carried in arms 69 and held in position by latch plate 18 (Figs. 3 and; 6) secured on arm 69 by screw 19. Latch plate 18 extends into a transverse slot 80 of the locking pin to limit the endwise movement thereof. The locking pin is spring urged into engagement with a fastening station and can be latched in disengaged position. As illustrated in Fig. 6, the locking pin is provided with a longitudinal recess 8| to receive spring 82 which is compressed between the end of the recess and latch plate 18. The parts are shown in normal position with the locking pin seated in an aperture 16. By moving the pin out of the aperture the spring is compressed and latching slot 83 at one side of slot 86 is aligned with latch plate 78 and can be engaged therewith by a slight rotation of the looking pin in either direction to latch the pin in inoperative position.

Preferably, an aperture or fastening station 16 is provided for each size of box to be handled. In the illustrated embodiment, four apertures 16 are provided for use with boxes of 1 bushel, 1 bushel, 1 bushel and tangerine size. Fig. 5 illustrates schematically the various adjusted positions of a presser arm, the full line position being the same as shown in Figs. 1 through 4 for a l and bushel capacity box, the face of the presser arm being in an angled position to engage the end of an arched box lid. The small dash line position represents the presser arm as located for a l bushel box, while the large dash line shows the arm as located for a bushel box, and the chain lines as located for a tangerine size box. It is to be noted the angle of the presser arm face is controlled by the location of the various holes 16 to insure flat engagement of such face with a box lid, while the lid is nailed, strapped, or otherwise fastened on the box.

It is seen, therefore, that the presser arms can be readily adjusted vertically to correspond to the size box coming through the packing line, so that no unnecessary time need be lost in making the adjustment, and so that only one size box press need be provided for all sizes of boxes. It is also to be noted that because of the unitary construction of the presser arm assembly, such assemblies can be mounted readily on box presses already in use, thereby increasing their efficiency and reducing the amount of equipment required in a packing plant or the like.

While we have shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the form thereof is subject to variation and modification, and that the invention should be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a box press, a box support, and means for clamping a box on said support including a bracket movable with respect. to said support, a crank pivoted at one end on said bracket, a presser arm carried by said crank adjacent its free end, and adjustable connecting means between said bracket and said crank including a plurality of fastening stations on said bracket and a fastening element adjacent the free end of said crank for selective engagement with said fastening stations, whereby to vary the vertical position of said presser arm relative to said bracket by pivotal movement of said crank.

2. An attachment for a box press or the like having a box support and presser means movable to clamp a box on said support, comprising a bracket for mounting on said presser means and having a plurality of vertically spaced apertures, a crank pivotally mounted on said bracket, a presser arm rotatably mounted in said crank and having an extension at one side thereof, and a locking pin carried by said extension and engageable with any selected aperture, whereby to change the vertical position of said presser arm relative to said bracket.

3. An attachment for a box press or the like having a box support and presser means movable to clamp a box on said support, comprising a bracket for mounting on said presser means and having a plurality of vertically spaced apertures, a crank pivotally mounted at one end on said bracket, a presser arm rotatably mounted on said crank at its other end, a releasable looking pin carried by said arm and engageable with any selected aperture, to adjust the vertical position of said presser arm. relative to said bracket and means for latching said locking pin in inactive position.

4. In a box press, a box support, a presser frame mounted for vertical movement relative to said support, a crank having one end pivotally connected to said frame and having its other end adjustably connected thereto, a presser arm carried by said other crank end. whereby pivotal adjusting movement of said crank provides for vertical adjustment of said presser arm relative to said frame, a fastening element associated With said crank, and a plurality of means on said frame engageable by said fastening element for positioning said crank and presser arm at any of a plurality of vertical positions relative to said frame.

5. In a box press, a box support, a presser frame mounted for vertical movement relative to said support, a crank having one end pivotally connected to said frame, a presser arm mounted at the other end of said crank, a plurality of fastening stations on said frame along the path of movement of said other crank end, and a fastening element on said crank for selective engagement with said fastening stations.

6. An attachment for a box press or the like having a box support for presser means movable to clamp a box on said support, including a bracket for mounting on said presser means, a crank pivoted at one end on said bracket for vertical swinging movement thereon, a presser arm rotatably mounted in the free end of said crank, said arm having a face for engaging a box lid, and means for holding said crank against pivotal movement at any of a plurality of vertical positions and for maintaining the lid engaging face of said presser arm at an angle to insure flat engagement with a box lid.

'7'. An attachment for a box press or the like having a box support and presser means movable to clamp a box on said support, including a bracket for mounting on said presser means, a crank pivotally mounted on said bracket for vertical swinging movement thereon, a presser arm rotatably mounted in said crank at its free end and having a box lid engaging face, said presser arm having an extension at one side of said crank, a fastening element associated with said extension, and a plurality of fastening stations on said bracket engageable by said fastening means whereby said crank and presser arm may be held at a plurality of positions with respect to the vertical and whereby the lid engaging face of said presser arm is maintained at a predetermined angle in each of the positions.

8. In a box press, a box support, and means for clamping a box on said support including a presser arm having a box lid engaging face, said presser arm being adjustable vertically and also being rotatable to vary the angularity of its lid engaging face, and a single means for simultaneously adjusting the vertical position of said arm and the angularity of the lid engaging face thereof for cooperation with boxes of different sizes and with lids having different degrees of arch.

9. In a box press, a box support, and means for clamping a box on said support including a presser arm having a box lid engaging flat face, said presser arm. being adjustable vertically and also being rotatable to vary the angularity of its lid engaging face, and means for adjusting said arm vertically with respect tosaid support for cooperation with boxes of different sizes, operation of said means acting to effect angular adjustment of said lid engaging face for insuring flat engagement with lids having different degrees of arch.

10. In a box press, a box support, means for pressing a lid upon a box resting on said support and including a pair of lid pressing arms having flat lid engaging faces, means for supporting said presser arms above said box support, means for providing relative movement of said presser arm support and said box support toward and away from one another, and means for adjusting said presser arms vertically with respect to their supporting means, said presser arms being associated with said adjusting means in a manner to cause angular adjustment of said lid engaging faces upon actuation of said adjusting means.

LLOYD E. JONES. HENRY L. SMITH, 

